Device for packaging coiled material and the package of coiled material



Feb. 4, 1958 c. E FRANKs 2,822,086

DEVICE FOR I D AT RI L P ING CO LE M E A THE PACKAGE OF COILED MATERIAL lllll'll Il Ilmlllv ldll 0 u Il III H f iammmmulwMmmm H um nuulnlunuumlu [noem: (H4/@L f5 5 Fea/W5,

mM/Q A@ United States Patent DEVICE FOR PACKAGING COILED MATERIAL AND THE PACKAGE F COILED MATERIAL Charles E. Franks, Waukegan, lll., assigner to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 17, 1952, Serial No. 326,524

6 Claims. (Cl. 20G- 65) The present invention relates to a device and method for packaging a plurality of coiled elements, such as bundles of wire or rod, into a single compact package.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reuseable retaining hook of novel shape suitable for forming and securing a compact package of coiled elements.

Corollary to the above object, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method of forming and securing a compact package of coiled elements.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a row of bundles being compressed for securing and packaging with the -hook of my invention;

Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 and shows the row of bundles secured;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the form of hook having an eye at its end and a chain attached to the eye;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the eye end of the hook of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan View of a hook having -a short bent end;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the bent end section of the hook shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view partly in dotted lines showing the use of ia metal strap for connecting two hooks together;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing hooks of my invention applied to a row of wire bundles preparato-ry to packaging the same according to a modified method of my invention;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the securing of the hooks after the row of bundles has been packaged;

Figure 10 is a plan view showing a modied hook of my invention;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of Figure l0;

Figure 12 is an end view of Figure l0;

Figure 13 is an end view of a row of wire bundles with the hook of Figure 10 applied thereto; and

Figure 14 is a side elevational view of Figure 13.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates generally the retaining hook of my invention, which may be made of round, ilat or shaped wire or rod of metal, plastic or any other material of suitable strength. As shown in Figure 3, the hook includes a relatively long leg 4; and an intermediate V- shape portion 6 integral with one end of the leg and extending in a substantially normal plane with the apex 8 ofthe V-shape directed away from the leg; and a relatively short terminal portion or section 11) integral with the end of the intermediate portion 6 and extending normal therefrom substantially parallel to the leg. The terminal portion 10 is bent slightly so that it extends inwardly toward the leg 4 initially and then outwardly.

2,822,086 Patented Feb. 4, 1958 The inwardly bent initial portion of the terminal section 10 and intermediate portion 6, together with the adjacent section 12 of the leg 4, define a pocket 13 for receiving the end convolutions of a coiled element. ln use, the terminal portion 10 and leg section 12 grip two sides of a circumferential section of a coil and the intermediate portion 6 engages the end of the coil as best shown in Figure 3.

The end 14 of the leg 4 remote from intermediate portion 6 may be bent to form an eye 16 or it may be given a short right angle bend 18 the purposes of which will become apparent.

In packaging a plurality of wire bundles A, using the method of my invention, the desired number of bundles are rst arranged in a horizontal row B with the cores of the bundles in alignment; spaced hooks 2 are then applied to the row in pairs, with one hook of each pair engaging one end of the row and the other hook engaging the opposite end; the row is compressed and the legs 4 of the pairs of hooks 2 are connected together end to end longitudinally along the outer surface of the row to hold it in compression.

In practice, the row B may be picked up with the ram C of a lift truck D after the hooks 2 have been applied loosely. Two or more sets of pairs of my retaining hooks Imay be applied. When two sets are used, they are placed opposite each other on each side of the end wire bundles. When more than two sets are used, they are spaced evenly around the circumferences of the end bundles. The row is then transported by the lift truck to a buttress E which may be made up of a pair of supported spaced vertical posts. The lift truck operator then compresses the row of bundles by positioning the end bundle of the elevated row against the buttress with the ram C fitting between the posts. With the row of bundles in this position, the operator moves the truck forward until the row of bundles is compressed. The V-shape of the intermediate portion 6 of the hooks allows the convolutions of wire to llow into the peak of the hook as compression is made and has a binding effect after the hooks have been connected together and the hooks only are holding the bundles of the row in compression. The inwardly bent sections of the terminal portions 10 of the hooks exert gripping pressure on the convolutions while the outwardly bent sections thereof facilitate slipping the hooks onto the bundles.

Each pair of hooks may include one hook having an eye 16 at its end and one 'having a short bend 18 at its end. The paired hooks may then be connected together while the row is held under compression against the buttress by inserting the short bend 18 of the one hook into the eye 16 ofthe other.

A short length of chain 20 may be attached to the eye 16 of the one hook so that the hooks may be quickly connected in pairs by inserting the bend 18 of the other hook into one of the links of the chain 20 as compression is made. Short lengths of narrow gauge steel strapping 21 having holes punched at intervals along its length may be used instead of the chain if desired. The use of a length of chain or steel strapping to connect the hooks permits quick packaging of nonuniform size bundles since the length of the connections may be easily and quickly shortened or lengthened by inserting the bend 13 in the proper link of the chain or punched hole in the strip. The legs 4 of the hooks, which may be of any desired length, lie along the outside of the bundles so that they may be conveniently connected. It desired, for any reason, the hooks may be applied with the legs 4 extending inwardly of the bores of the bundles.

After the pairs of hooks have been connected, a wire tie may be snubbed over the bend 18 inserted in the 3 hook eye or chain link so that jarring will not cause the .hooks tobecome disconnected.

=If desired, the hook-s used may be exclusively of the type having an eye in the end of theleg, the eyes of the paied'hcoks'being connected together by measof'hea'vy gauge wire', wire strand, or" steelfst'rapping'. Figure 8 illustrates 'a modiied'm'aiiner of using the retainer hook of my in vention for packaging a number of Wire" bundles' A into ac'o'm'pact' unit." The' leg 4" of the ho'oks 2 used foi-'this' method'are' nearly a's long as the compressed row. The 'ends'of the hooksare each provided with an eye 16. Before the row of bundles is compressed, several lengths of wire or wire strand 22 are 'placed around several of the end convolutions of the .bundle at one end'of the row at spaced intervals. The hooks 2 are positioned on the other'end'of 'thel row opposite the wirev 'strands 22. Then when the row is compressed, the wire strands are tied to the eyes of the respective hooks, as shown' in Figure 9. If desired, the legs 4' of the hooks'may be disposed within the core of the row against the inner surfaces 'of the bundles instead of along the outer surface of the row.

When :greater stability and increased bearing surface for the hooks are required, a stirrup 24 may be used as shown in Figures 10, ll and 12.' The stirrup is made of light gauge steel and is shaped to t on'the inner surface of the' intermediate portion 6, and adjacent portions of the terminal end and section l2 of the leg. The stirrup may be either spot welded in place as at 26 or be provided with grooves in its' surface shaped to fit'the con tour of the hook surface.

`It will be noted that the same retaining hooks may be used repeatedly in the methods of packaging described and shown.

It is not intended to limit the scope of this invention to .the use of the device and method described for packaging bundles of Wire but rather to include any use to which the invention lends itself and to any modifications of the invention within' the scope of the claims hereinafter recited.

.I claim:

l. A retaining device for holding a plurality of stacked compressible annular bundles of coiled material together ina unitary package which comprises' at least two pairs of hook members, each of the hook members in each pair including' a relatively long substantially straight leg portion' and an angularly shaped portion integral with'and extending angularly from one end of said leg portion and defining a retaining pocket portion, the retaining portion of one hook member in each pair encompassing one end of said stack with the end thereof remote from said leg projecting inwardllyof said stack, the retaining por tion' of the other hook member in each pair encompassing the opposite end of said stack with the end thereof remote Afrom said leg projecting inwardly of said leg and extending substantially normal to said leg, and

.a relatively short end portion integral with the free end of said intermediate' portion and extending substantially normal to lsaid intermediate portion, said end portion having an initial section directed toward said leg and a terminal section directed away from said leg, one ofthe hook members in each pair being disposed with its intermediate portion and the initial sectionof its end portion encompassing one end of said stack and its end ,portion projecting inwardly of said stack, the other hook member in each pair being disposed with its intermediate Portion and the initial .sentan nf its .enti .Ppltipn 911.99@- passing the opposite end of said stack and its end portion projecting inwardly of said stack, and flexible means detachably connecting the leg portions of each pair of hook members together end to end, said pairs of hook members being spaced vfrom `each Aother around the periphery lof said stack.

31 A retaining device ,forfholding a plurality of stacked compress'ible "a'nnt'ilarbidles of' coiled 'rn'ate'rial together in a unitary package which Qomprises vat )leastwa p air lof hosk'meibers, e'ich f said-hook' 11p-ej pers' `1j`nc1jn1i-ir1g'a relatively long sulstantiallyv st'raightlg prtio'n'f'n intermediate Vishape portion integral 4With'o'ne 'end' 'of 'said leg and extending substantially rnormal gto said leg, and a relatively short" endiportiori integral'lwith the free end of said intermediate portion and extending substantially normal to said intermediate portion, said end portion having an initial vsection directed 'toward said vleg and a terminal section directed awayjfrorn said leg, leach-.of Said hook members being dispnsed -,vt/ith its .ntnrmdiate portion .and .the intialisetinn .0f .its .end .nortinn @nennipassns one end Of .Said Stack; .and flexible mns .detachably connecting the end Aof the ,long Ileg Aof eachof said hook members to the end of said stack remote Ifrom the encompassed end themaf, Said ,honk Intimes@ .being spaced about the ,peripheryof vsaid stack.

4. A package comprising a plurality rof compressible annular .bundles nf Cniled mnteinl ,0f .Substantially Phi* form diameter .dimmed @manned manantial nlanfnsnt in the form lof a tubular stack, a retainingdevice on Is aid stack, said retaining device comprising atleast two pairs of hook m embers,each of lsaid .hook'memb'ers yincluding a relatively long substantially ystraight legy portionand an angularly shaped portion integral .with andextending a'ngularlyfrom one end of :said retaining'poition integral with and extending .angularly ,fram Rn? ,end 'nf .finiti les portion andI dening a'retainiug" pocket po'rtion,"tlie Aretaining portion of o ne'hook memberin'eachpa encompassing one end 'of said stack with' the'end 'thereof remote from Said .lee .n.rnientnenwardly nf '.'Sidltack the'ire'taiiiing 'portion' otlie Vother h'okmember in'"a ch pair encompassing the opposite end of said stack A,with the end thereof remo'te from said leg projecting 'i wardly of said stack, and ,flexiblerneansvdegachably'co' yeeting the lne Portions .Qfench lpair .9f'hldk`m:,mb9`.r. 1o ther end to end, said' pairs of :hook members being s| ed from each other around'the periphery o f said's'tack."

5. A package comprising 'a plurality "ofcomptjessible annular bundles of coiledirnaterial 'of substantial form diameter disposed coinpressed'in coaxia u 4 g u ,Y in the form of atubular stack, a retaining' Adeyicle'bn said stack, said retaining device comprisingatlasjt twp'pairs of hook members, each'of 'said'hook'niembers'in'iuding a relatively l.long substantially straight leg po'rtio'nglan intermediate V-shape lportion integral with foneleild of said leg and extending substantially norrnal'tfo' said leg, and a relatively short'end portion'intgralwith'pth'e free end of said intermediate'portion and extending substantially normal to said intermediate polrftifo,l said 'nfdportion having an initial section: directed 'tov'vlard'isaid' leg and a terminal section directed'away from said leg', ,one of the hook members in each pair being disposed with its intermediate portion and the initial section f'itsend portion encompassing one end of fsaid stack" and its end portion projecting inwardly l'of said stack, 'the' other 'hook member in each pair being disposed withit'sintermediate portion and the initial 'section' of its"e'nd'porti`or'1`"eu compassing the opposite 'end 'of 'said stack and its end portion projecting inwardly of said stack, 'and tflexible means detachably connecting'the leg portions of'each pair of hook'members together end to en d, said lpairs'of hook members being spaced vfrom each otfherarpund ,the periphery of said stack.

6. A package Qomnrisine a plurality 0f Qompmssihle annular bundles of coiled vmzlltelrialoi substantial/y uniform diameter disposed compressed in coaxial alignment in the form of a tubular stack, a retaining device on said stack, said retaining device comprising at least a pair of hook members, each of said hook members including a relatively long substantially straight leg portion, an intermediate V-shape portion integral with one end of said leg and extending substantially normal to said leg, and a relatively short end portion integral with the free end of said intermediate portion and extending substantially normal to said intermediate portion, said end portion having an initial section directed toward said leg and a terminal section directed away from said leg, each of said hook members being disposed with its intermediate portion and the initial section of its end portion encompassing one end of said stack, and tiexible means detachably connecting the end of the long leg of each of said hook members to the end of said stack remote from the encompassed end thereof, said hook members being spaced about the periphery of said stack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hebard Apr. 30, 1878 Collie Dec. 14, 1886 Hendryx Jan. 26, 1892 Tweedale Jan. 29, 1895 Dunn Jan. 19, 1904 Maass Nov. 16, 1909 Round May 13, 1924 Gunnell Jan. 20, 1931 Overholtz Apr. 3, 1934 Walper Nov. 12, 1935 Campbell Apr. 14, 1936 Mac Chesney Nov. 24, 1936 Slusar May 30, 1939 Edwards Apr. 8, 1947 Averill Nov. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Sept. 12, 1933 

